Colortune Experiences

[asaint]

Hi all,

I'm thinking of ordering a colortune and wanted to hear any experiences folks have with it. It *appears* like an invaluable tool for the annual tuneup.

Anyone know if I need the 12mm or 14mm for my 82 R100RT?

peace,
Asaint

[PAULBACH]

Colortune was a new name for me. So I did a bit of searching and ...

click here (http://www.gadgetjq.com/ctune.htm)

Looks like an interesting concept.

[amiles]

The experts on the Airheads list give thumbs down. One problem is reportedly the threads are off risking those in the head.

[35634]

Didn't know those things were still out there. Had some success with them back in the
70's trying to dial in Triumphs and MGs with Weber carb conversions, headers, dual-point
distributers and such. Good for Idle, not good for high speed at load readings.

[asaint]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the feedback on the colortune. Appears I can skip purchasing one of these. I guess too good to be true.

peace,
Asaint

[keelerb]

I've had no luck with mine. You (I) can turn idle screws from ready-to-seize lean to ready-to-foul rich with very little discernible change in flame color. It's a great theory, but the practice leaves something to be desired.

[shire2000]

Get a good timing light, and either make or buy a good carb balancing setup and learn to listen to your engine. Don't expect any 30+ year old engine to be 100% with the factory settings. You have to remember that the factory settings are only close guidlines for a bike that is totally brand new from the factory. Your bike has many parts that are wear differently. Not everything will ever be 100% as it came from the factory. Some settings will be slightly different as time goes by.

If you learn to get things very close with the timing and the carb balancers, then listen to the engine as you do your final fine tuning. It will speak to you and let you know when it is optimal. Ask any old mechanic and he/she/it will tell you that it all comes down to listening and feel to get an engine to run at it's optimum. It is something that you have to learn over time by doing. Not something you can read in a book or buy over the counter.

If you want to throw your money at snake oil and gimickry, then you might as well just send your money to that Nigerian Prince who needs to get millions of $$ out of his country.

[AnnapolisAirhead]

If you want to throw your money at snake oil and gimickry, then you might as well just send your money to that Nigerian Prince who needs to get millions of $$ out of his country.

+1 on that. On the otherhand, I posted that I was looking for a headlight ring and got 8 offers from presumably, non-Nigerians claiming to have one in the UK wondering if I still needed one--just an hour or so from the time I posted it. No price only a broken English description of the piece. Scams abound.:brow

[3moskvichi]

What's the collective wisdom on carb balancing tools? The mercury sticks? Vacuum gauges? Or if you have a good ear with the experience to go with it (not me), can you do a good carb balance without special tools?

[AnnapolisAirhead]

What's the collective wisdom on carb balancing tools? The mercury sticks? Vacuum gauges? Or if you have a good ear with the experience to go with it (not me), can you do a good carb balance without special tools?

I have a TwinMax that works well for me. I've used a friend's Mercury sticks, but honestly I think he did more of the balancing than the sticks. He is just really good at it. The TwinMax has an analog needle that is easier for me to read...when its centered, its balanced. :thumb

[shire2000]

+1 on the Twinmax
Have had the TwinMax for a long time, works like a charm. Never had any issues and pretty easy to use.
Many people have made their own, which work fine for them.

[keelerb]

Another thumbs' up for the TwinMax. It's easy to use and works great. Heck, you can even use it while riding if you want to go that far (I haven't).

[04R1150RS]

I've had good luck w/ the color tune on Triumph's (cars), Austin Healey's and 240Z's, very useful tool to diagnose problems, especially SU's and ZS carbs, haven't needed it for the G/S as the carbs are very good compared to SU's and ZS's.
Most of the time I can hear when the A/F mixture is off. Glad I have one to use every now and then. I bought mine in the 80's, lost cheaper then. I think Harbor freight then on the on line catalugue, quite a bit cheaper than specialty houses.
Twin max and balance tubes don't do the same thing as a color tune. Color tune is for setting A/F mixture at idle and off idle. You can see the color of the flame and tell it it's going lean. YOU DON'T WANT TO LEAVE IT INSTALLED FOR LONG PERIODS, at least according to the instructions. Thing gets pretty hot of course.